Finally, the official 2006 Coachella lineup (subject to change of course)

Let's just review the list before i critique.

Saturday, April 29th
Depeche Mode, Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, Common, Damian Marley, Atmosphere, Carl Cox, My Morning Jacket, Ladytron , Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Tosca, Cat Power, Animal Collective, HARD-fi, Derrick Carter, Devendra Banhart, She Wants Revenge, The Walkmen, The Juan Maclean, Audio Bullys, Imogen Heap, Lady Sovereign, Deerhoof, The Duke Spirit, Editors, stellastarr*, Lyrics Born, Matt Costa, The New Amsterdams, The Zutons, Platinum Pied Pipers, White Rose Movement, Chris Liberator, Colette, Joey Beltram, Hybrid, Wolfmother, The Like, Living Things, Nine Black Alps, The Section Quartet, Infadels, Youth Group, Shy FX & T Power, Infusion.

Sunday, April 30th
Tool, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bloc Party, Paul Oakenfold, Scissor Sisters, Matisyahu, James Blunt, TV on the Radio, Sleater-Kinney , Mogwai, Coheed and Cambria, Gnarls Barkley, Coldcut, Phoenix, Digable Planets, Amadou & Mariam, Little Louie Vega, Mylo (DJ Set), Seu Jorge, Wolf Parade, The Go! Team, Kaskade, Metric, Art Brut, Dungen, The Dears, Jamie Lidell, The Magic Numbers, Los Amigos Invisibles, Jazzanova, Michael Mayer, Mates of State, Gilles Peterson, Gabriel & Dresden, The Subways, Minus the Bear, Be Your Own Pet, Giant Drag, Kristina Sky, The Octopus Project.

So, the rumored list I had before was pretty much bumpkus. I did find it on the internet. Half the fun of the Coachella festival is anticipating what they'll do next. I think that revolves around the actual line up being better than expected or just coming out of nowhere knocking you on your ass with your jaw resting on your balls. Then there is the crushing disappointment when you realize that the one act you wanted most isn't anywhere on the list. That definitely happened this year.

So, let's start with the disappointment. The Pumpkins could have scored, but I guess we'll never know. Think next year perhaps. I think the electronic acts as a group were lacking. No Portishead. No Massive Attack. No Underworld or Icey. What do we get instead? Paul Oakenfold (ick, shudder). Ladytron will be there, but on Saturday which is overall the weaker day. The big ball crusher for me though, three words, My Bloody Valentine. This would have been an act I would have waited for all day through shitty bands and thunder storms, dehydration and rancid body odor to have a chest-crushing front row view.

Now on to the reasons I absolutely obsess over this festival (besides the fact that it is the only one worth going to that I can financially afford to get to). It is still being debated in my head which was the most ambrosial surprise for me: Tool or Sleater-Kinney. On the one hand Sleater-Kinney is one of the greatest rock bands ever to walk the planet, but then again so is Tool. I've always been wanting to go to a Tool concert, ditto Sleater-Kinney. My brain is about to explode trying to decide. At least now that Tool is confirmed I'll be able to convince my sister to go. The best part of every year though is finding music by the many acts I've never heard of and getting even more excited to hear my new favorite act of the moment. I wonder who it will be this year?

SOTU

How long do you think it will be until he invokes September 11th? I say somewhere in the first five minutes. Anyone else want to fathom a guess?

And now for something completely tangential:

Someone needs to slip poison into Anne Coulter's creme brulee. I'll even give them five bucks for this salutary act.

No Wet Pot

I don't really have anything to post about, well that's not entirely true. I just don't feel like it currently. I just found this pic, and I thought it was funny. Especially the expression on the girl's face.

Random thoughts

I think it is a little odd that the three blogger profiles that include Religion Explained as a favorite book are all male libras and are either 26 or 27 in age.

Why does it take me fifteen minutes to open my magnetic sudoku travel game and my partner only fifteen seconds?



How can Brokeback Mountain be doing so well when I almost walked out before falling asleep?

I can't wait to get our taxes back!!! $$$Cha-ching$$$

I don't get another extended weekend for two more weeks. Fuck that, I need one now.

My desk in an utter wreck, and yet I haven't even the slightest desire to clean a thing on it let alone putting something away.

I've cut my smoking in half over the past week. This upcoming week I'm planning on doing it again. Cigarette smoking by the way, not marijuana.

Who the fuck?

Electric Six and Belle & Sebastian are going to be playing in San Francisco in the upcoming months, but I don't know anyone who would want to go see. That sucks. This is a common theme for me. There have been countless shows I would have liked to seen, but none of my friends are even mildly interested in them. PJ Harvey, le Tigre (when they were headlining), ICQ, Bjork (when she was on tour), Cibo Matto, etc.. Why is this? Do my friends music choices suck? No, I've seen plenty of acts that rocked with me homies. Hey, where are my homies? I haven't seen them in ages. What the fuck?
I seem to be in a relatively sour mood today. Maybe that is because I've been staring out of my room into a depressingly grey sky imagining how shitty the weather in SF might turn out to be today, and how I've made plans to go to Haight with some friends and how that could infinitely suck balls unless the sun decides to make a somewhat extended appearance. I'll have to keep my fingers crossed in the meantime.

That's right, just keep telling that to yourself...

...Attorney General Gonzales. Maybe eventually even you will believe that the POTUS can do whatever the fuck he wants. I think the protesters have it right, just like Bush and the Republican party have turned their backs to average US citizens (not to mention the world at large), Georgetown university law school students returned the favor as Gonzales tried to defend Bush's domestic spying program. "Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither."

On a completely unrelated note, in the previous Gilmore Girls related post I forgot to mention that the quiz had a great quote from the show. Lane, the show's resident indy music fanatic, quips, "You are not telling me that you didn't know that Kim Deal was in the Pixies before the Breeders! I refuse to accept that!" And for that matter, I refuse as well!

Luke?

So, I have stayed away from posting any online quizzes in recent months and taking them for that matter, but when I saw the what Gilmore Girls character are you quiz? (I fixed a typo that I made that corrected that are in the last sentence from ate, which really changes the theme of the quiz, just one little letter) Luke?!? I'm frelling LUKE?!? And my partner is Lorelai? I think that maybe they should be reversed. Although it is cool that we got Luke and Lorelai, they do make such a great couple. And yes I actually do really dig this show. And yes I really really really (emphasis on the second really) love Fannypack especially that Sugar Daddy song.



Luke


What Gilmore Girl's character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

How far will the US Justice Department Go

Hopefully, everyone has heard how google if refusing to turn over records on millions of its users' search queries. The Justice Department is asking a judge to compel google to release this information as part of the government's effort to uphold an online pornography law. Google has rightly refused to fulfill the request, but maybe the most overlooked part of this news story is the fact that MSN, Yahoo!, and AOL have already provided this information. So, if you have used any of those search engines then the government already knows what you have been searching for.

Now don't forget, the government wants this information, not to protect us from terrorists (which would still be scandalous, but more in line with their current practices), but to establish a profile of internet use that will help to defend the Child Online Protection ACT.

Now if haven't heard of this act, here is some interesting information and history on it. Passed in 1998, it would impose tough criminal penalties on individuals whose web sites carried material deemed harmful to minors. Already it sounds a bit over-reaching at least to me. To begin with, not all material on the internet is intended for children. In fact, I would say less than 1% of the internet was even designed with children in mind, but of course we must protect the children at all costs. Haven't you ever heard of a filter? Hello parents, wake the fuck up and do your job of raising and looking after your own damn children. Quit making my life all roses and candy canes, just so that your children aren't infected by the big bad world out there.

Apparently though, I'm not the only one having issues with this act. It has repeatedly been challenged, and in 2004 the Supreme Court upheld an injunction on enforcement of the law. They sent the case back to a district court for further examination of Internet-filtering technology that might be an alternative in achieving the law's aims. There you have it. Big Brother is looking over your shoulder or at least wants to be, but don't worry there is no need to get all paranoid or anything (Ha).

Union Square

So, my guy and I spent most of Sunday in surprisingly sunny San Francisco. We were shopping but were not particularly impressed with any of the wares we stumbled across. We did however eat at the Cheesecake Factory, man I love that place, I couldn't get enough of the barbeque ranch chicken salad and crab cakes. I ate so much there was no room for cheesecake, which will have to wait until next time. Oh yeah, the picture, that is the view you get. If you notice in the middle of the bottom is the top of that statue in the middle of Union Square. Again, it was quite odd to have such a gorgeously sunny day in SF, magnificent. 

What is up with Coke?

No not cocaine. Coca-Cola, and the answer is quite a bit. Below is the new and old Cherry Coke labels. Not that it matters at all, but I like the new label. Not that the old one bothered me in any way, it is a label after all, but I like the new aesthetic.

Old Cherry Coke Design
New Cherry Coke Design

Along with redesigning their labels , they are changing their lineup as well. First, they've introduced Black Cherry Vanilla Coke. Which is just as disturbing as all of Coke's vanilla drinks. The nasty syrup vanilla taste just completely covers up any trace of the black cherry flavor. The 20oz. I got this label from is still sitting in my fridge waiting for someone to drink it. Someone at my work said that the drink was racist because the white vanilla overpowers the black cherry. I found that to be amusing.


In addition to introduction of Black Cherry Vanilla Coke, the powers that be have decided that over the next year they will phase out their diet coke with lime, vanilla coke, and diet vanilla coke. They all sucked so it doesn't bother me at all. I think my addiction to cherry coke must come to end an end soon. There is something about the year of the dog that seems to be telling me to give it up. I wonder.

More Coachella Rumors

I am absolutely dying in anticipation for the official release of the 2006 lineup, but rumors will have to do for now.
First is the sad fact that Morrissey definitely won't be there. He will be touring of in Europe some where if I remember correctly. While that sucks, there are still acts that get me more excited that might be there.
There is an addition to my rumored list that would fucking rock. My Bloody Valentine. Now, I don't know how much faith to put in the idea, but I wouldn't miss a MBV reunion. Only problem with this idea that I foresee is that they aren't that well known to be the headlining retro act, ala The Pixies, Siouxsie, Bauhaus, or New Order. Even though they are much better than both Bauhas and New Order.
I think that NME may have got the scoop that The Smashing Pumpkins will be reuniting to headline one of the days. Billy Corgan must be dying to see his name in headlines again. He has got such a frelling big head. And they might be using their second bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur, who I believed was also in Hole. I would rather they used D'arcy, but it is cool either way.
I think some other acts that seem to be confirmed rather than just speculated on include Depeche Mode, Coldcut, and Paul Oakenfold. Again though, how the fuck would I know?

Fuck Walmart

I haven't set foot in Walmart in over twelve years, and only then because I desperately needed some oil for my car. I can only hope that one day they won't exist, and we only study them as an example of a failed economic system.

Tell Me About Yourself - The Survey

Name: Kayaboy
Birthday: September twenty-fourth
Birthplace: Marion, MA
Current Location: A desk in my apartment in Oakland, CA
Eye color: blue
Hair color: brown
Height: 6'2" (and a half)
Right or Left-handed: right
Your heritage: pretty much English, straight-up
The shoes you wore today: some beat up brown Rush sneakers
Your weakness: Feet and Reefer Boi
Your fears: that I really was mutated by the radiation I was exposed to as a child
Your perfect pizza: pepperoni, jalapeno, and pineapple thin crust
Goal you would like to achieve this year: buy new shoes
Your most overused phrase on Instant Messenger: hello there stranger
Thoughts first waking up: where am I?
Your best physical feature: cock
Your bedtime: when I'm sleepy
Your most missed memory: ages 0-7
Pepsi or Coke: Cherry Coke please
McDonald's or Burger King: McD's, it is all about the fries
Single or group dates: what's a date?
Lipton Iced Tea or Nestea: both are pretty disturbing
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee: umm.. Cherry Coke please
Do you smoke: yes
Do you swear: yes
Do you sing: no
Do you shower every day: no
Have you been in love: am in
Do you want to go to college: not at the moment
Do you want to get married: let's not get into it
Do you believe in yourself: yes
Do you get motion sickness: if I'm reading
Do you think you are attractive: only in dim lighting
Are you a health freak: not at all
Do you get along with your parents: depends on how you define "get along with"
Do you like thunderstorms: most definitely
Do you play an instrument: at one time I could play the oboe, clarinet, and piano
In the past month have you drank alcohol: yes
In the past month have you smoked: yes
In the past month have you been on drugs: yes
In the past month have you been on a date: yes
In the past month have you gone to a mall: yes
In the past month have you eaten a bag of oreos: no
In the past month have you eaten sushi: no
In the past month have you been on stage: no
In the past month have you been dumped: no
In the past month have you been skinny dipping: does the bathroom count?
In the past month have you stolen anything: no
Ever been drunk: ha, yes
Ever been called a tease: yes
Ever been beaten up: yes, and I don't advise it
Ever shoplifted: yes
How do you want to die: famously
What do you want to do when you grow up: travel
What country would you most like to visit: Greece

Another Wacky Web Tale

So, as we did more of these inane stories, they became more and more lame. Here is one as an example:

All a Dream

I fell asleep yesterday listening to an old album that my mom had. I really enjoyed it, though I had a weird dream. It was kind of like one of the old songs.

I've been workin' in New York City,
All the colorful day.
I've been workin' in New York City,
Just to pass the time away.
Don't you hear the whistle fucking?
Rise up so early in the morn.
Don't you hear Idina Menzel shouting
“Busty Wilde, take your horn? ”

Busty Wilde, won't you take,
Busty Wilde, won't you take,
Busty Wilde, won't you take your horn?
Busty Wilde, won't you take,
Busty Wilde, won't you take,
Busty Wilde, won't you take your horn?

Someone's in the dungeon with Busty Wilde.
Someone's in the dungeon, I know.
Someone's in the dungeon with Busty Wilde
Strumming on the old triangle.

It was the weirdest dream I've had in a long time!

A Wacky Web Tale

My guy and I are just hanging out tonight searching for someplace new to live. Pretty much trying to stumble upon some sort of super deal on a dream apartment. Pretty futile, but maybe it will produce something. He's more into it then I am at the moment, so I had my boy give me the words for this mad-lib on some random website. Enjoy the meaningless but mildly amusing results:

How to make a Snowman

Ingredients

sixty nine tablespoons sexy ball
thirty teaspoons cock
fifty cups dirty coke
five hundred tablespoons window

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Mix quickly with a spoon until sweaty. Place on front lawn or other cold location. Bake at -seven hundred and ninety degrees for four minutes until snow is smelly and hot. Test with stick or carrot to make sure it is ready.

When done, decorate with a teddie and a jockstrap. Use a bed for a mouth and pussies for eyes.

Serves everyone!

Frelling Bajeezus

Here I am bored and feeling pretty dull, physically that is. My body is pretty numb at the moment, I think it may be a combination of the freezing cold and the trainwreck. It is in fact a calming sensation, and I am enjoying it immensely. I'm basically just zoning out whilst listening to a combination of Fannypack and the soundtrack to Shock Treatment.

Noboru Wataya

In the novel I'm currently reading, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, I came across a passage that stuck out at me. The narrator is describing his brother-in-law, and it seemed to describe in perfect detail what annoys me most about politicians and political commentators you constantly come across on the cable news channels:

Consistency and an established worldview were excess baggage in the
intellectual mobile warfare that flared up in the mass media's tiny time
segments, and it was his great advantage to be free of such things. He had
nothing to protect, which meant that he could concentrate all his attention on
pure acts of combat. He needed only to attack, to knock his enemy down. Noboru
Wataya was an intellectual chameleon, changing his color in accordance with his
opponent's, ad-libbing his logic for maximum effectiveness, mobilizing all the
rhetoric at his command.Trotting out the technical jargon was another forte of
his. No one knew what it meant, of course, but he was able to present it in such
a way that you knew it was your fault if you didn't get it. And he was always
citing statistics, but if you stopped to think about it afterward, you realized
that no one had questioned his sources or their reliability.

And so Noboru Wataya came to be seen as one of the most intelligent
figures of the day. Nobody seems to care about consistency anymore. All they
look for on the tube were the bouts of intellectual gladiators; the redder the
blood they drew, the better. It didn't matter if the same person said one thing
on Monday and the opposite on Thursday.

I can't stand how hypocritical these people can be. They just love to hear the sound of their own voice and the paycheck that comes with their myriad of appearances. Go get a brain for once or better yet a life. Stop wasting my time spouting out your inane statements and idiotic "beliefs."

The DrugSpot

So I was checking out the site meter for my other blog (a cooperative with the infamous Busty Wilde), and man it seems to be taking off. Just check this graph out.

It looks like December had close to a thousand visits. I wasn't really expecting that much. January is already up past 450 , crazy sugar smacks. So, take a moment and check it out. In fact check it out regularly. There is a link over to the right, but for you truly lazy people who don't want to look for it in the list (it is on top for bajesus sake), here you go.

The DrugSpot

Current Events

It has been quite some time since I've discussed the current affairs of the world. This has most to do with the fact that they absolutely blow. We've got a president who thinks he's King George (torture, wiretapping, lying to the American people about war, it is all pretty disgusting), a congress who thinks they are a gigantic piggy bank(Delay, Frist, Ney, Abramoff, Blunt, I could keep going), and a judiciary that keeps being thrown further and further to the right (I'm not talking about just the supreme court either, have you seen the some of the president's choices for federal judges other than supreme court nominees?). We've still got over 1000 days of the Bush presidency, and not even if the Democrats were miraculously able to somehow regain either house in congress, our beautiful nation will continue to lose any dignity and strength that we still have.

Overseas, we've got Iran spitting in the face of the IAEA. Iraq seems to be descending into civil war. The tentative ceasefire in Israel is quickly evaporating. Afghanistan has all but been forgotten by the American public, and our relationships with just about every nation (except Australia and the UK) seems to be at their lowest points in recent decades. At least the leftist shift in Latin America is uplifting. You've got the three new leaders of Chile, Bolivia, and Venezuela (not to mention Brazil, and Columbia seems to be going down the same path) scaring the shit out of those in the White House.

Oh well, maybe the Dog will straighten things out. I guess I can dream

Blimps?

It was the picture that drew me to this article. Quickly followed by the thought, "They want to do what?" In addition to visions of the Hindenburg flashing in my head. The idea of a military blimp seems pretty ridiculous to me, but who am I to question billion dollar defense contracts? Near the end of the article, someone mentions the idea of a "cruise ship in the sky." And while the idea completely freaks me out, at the same time, I am completely drawn to it. L.A. to New York in eighteen hours at about 10,000 feet, wow crazy. I think I could be down for that. I think.

The Golden Globes

I was pleasantly surprised this morning to discover that Phillip Seymour Hoffman had won the golden globe for best actor in a dramatic film. I was dreading the idea that Heath Ledger might win for his lackluster performance in The Gay Cowboy Movie, oh wait I mean Brokeback Mountain (Yawn...). The second highlight of the night had to have been when Mary-Louise Parker beat out all those desperate bitches from that housewives show for best actress in a comedy. The casts, crews and staff of various shows got a lot of kudos from the stage, but only Mary-Louise Parker thought to add, "I just want to make out with all of you." I absolutely adore that show Weeds and the star, M-LP. Hey, does anybody know when the next season starts.

Not that I actually watched the show, I was too busy biting my nails, flipping back and forth between the various news channels seeing what is next with the IAEA Iran stand-off, and reading The Wind-up Bird Chronicle. It is the beginning of the War in the Middle East: Part Three The Iranian Connection.

The Goat

A couple of posts ago I mentioned how the year of the dog is approaching and how I was born during the year of the goat. What does that have to say about me? Well apparently it says the following (well at least Suzanne White says so):

As a goat, my best
color is light green
flower is narcissus
fragrance is apple blossom
tree is dogweed
flavor is bland (is that a flavor?)
birthstone is sapphire
lucky number is 12

The goat is yang, and the goat's motto is 'I depend.'

On good days, goats are appealing, altruistic, creative, empathetic, intuitive, generous, artless, gentle, romantic, sensitive, compliant, candid, self-effacing darlings.

On bad days goats become self-pitying, pessimistic, fugitive, parasitic, vengeful, lazy, indecisive, contentious, violent, capricious, irresponsible, tardy, careless, bigoted, nasty little pieces of work.

This could describe a lot of people, but when you factor in my element of earth the description becomes a little more head on. The general picture of me becomes more distinct:

The earth goat is terminally erratic. This goat is very argumentative. But he often bases his arguments on illogical premises and flighty dreams which just happen to be zooming around his psyche and catch his fancy. Despite his tendency to bicker over the incosequential at every turn, the earth goat has one of the easiest goat natures to put up with because he knows very well that his survival depends on the goodwill he can muster among those who surround him. His imagination knows no bounds. He is sympathetic and undertstands even the most incomprehensible human behaviors. He is a brilliant and sympathetic soul.

So there you have it that is how you can describe me, and just about anyone else born in the years 1589, 1919, or 1979. (That includes Billy the Kid, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Zsa Zsa, Veronica Lake, and Lana Turner)

Coachella 2006

So obviously this is probably the most unreliable schedule you could possibly find on the internet especially since Coachella isn't for another four months. At the same time the rumored line up is usually pretty close to who actually plays. Even so this line up would be an absolute dream for me. So here is the entire rumored line up Coachella 2006 (I've placed in bold the groups i'm particularly excited about):

Saturday, April 29th: Depeche Mode, The Strokes, Portishead, Morrissey, Massive Attack, Franz Ferdinand, Atmosphere, Infected Mushroom, röyksopp, Kings of Leon, Doves, Silver Jews, Blackalicious, Ladytron, The Buzz, Primal Scream, The Shins, Super Furry Animals, DJ Peretz, Dieselboy, Tortoise, Supergrass, Sleater-Kinney, Richard Hawley, Grooverider, Death From Above 1979, Yesterday's New Quintet, Sufjan Stevens, Son Volt, The Walkmen, Why?, Will Oldham, The Clientele, Lighting Bolt, Cage, The Crimea, OK Go, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, john kelley

Sunday, April 30th: The White Stripes, Roxy Music (With Brian Eno), Sigur Rós, Underworld, Boards of Canada, Ween, Fatboy Slim, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Armin van Buuren, Big Star, Built to Spill, De La Soul, The Arcade Fire, Überzone, Iron & Wine, Happy Mondays, Elbow, Dinosaur Jr., TV on the Radio, Eagles of Death Metal, The Tears, Esthero, T. Rauschmiere, Cat Power, The New Pornographers, Grandaddy, Calexico, The Wedding Present, Andy C, Explosions in the Sky, Fatlip, DJ Icey, The Notwist and Themselves preforming as 13 & God, Devendra Banhart, The Coral, Stateless

The Year of the Dog

This is no way to treat an animal. You can just tell in their eyes how much pain they must be in.

And yes, we are about to enter the year of the dog (I'm pretty sure the element is fire). I just happen to be an earth goat. So what does the coming year have in store for me? Let's see, according to Suzanne White's The New Chinese Astrology:

This year could be crucial. How can a goat possibly be expected to function in this self-righteous atmosphere of altruism and devotion to social causes? I will not enjoy any of the Dog's indulgence. He cannot abide people who don't seem to care enormously about others. The dog is a savior of the downtrodden and a revolutionary thinker. He is suspicious of both aimless luxury and aimless lassitude, my two favorite toys. His dutiful attention to the problems of the less fortunate give me the impression that nobody is paying attention to me. Being ignored makes me insecure and I hate insecurity.

One way to save the day for goats during dog years is for us to join right in. Push myself: participate in social programs; join movements to fund projects for the poor; start a home for abandoned animals; or feed the homeless. If the dog's x-ray vision notices how hard I am trying, he will be less likely to bark and nip at my heels in an effort to get me where he thinks I ought to go.

Man, this seems like it is going to be an awfully long year. Jesus Fuck!!!

Favorite Books from the Past Year

Borderliners - Peter Hoeg

When I first approached this book I was mildly disappointed. I had expected something more along the lines of Smilla's Sense of Snow. This was a Peter Hoeg that I wasn't prepared for, and I almost ended up not finishing it after the first several chapters. Leaving books unfinished bothers the bajeezus out of me so I ended up coming back and discovering that I hadn't given it a fair shot. I started over and was greeted with what I thought must be a different novel. The quirky narrative shifts and grasping definitions of time and self became less jolting and more nuanced on the second attempt. I ended up enjoying it and eventually decided to read another Hoeg novel

The History of Danish Dreams- Peter Hoeg

In this novel Hoeg decides to be even more abstract shifting from one narrative storyline to another seemingly unrelated narrative and back again as if at whim. I've been looking for some concise Danish history after reading this novel just to better understand what the hell was going on. In similar fashion my next book got me interested in Pakistan, Indian, and Bangladesh history.

Midnight's Children - Salmon Rushdie

After nearly a year and a half of waiting for this book to become available at the Berkeley Public Library, I gave up and bought my own copy one day when I was strolling through Barnes and Nobles. You'd think after such a long wait I'd dive right in. Wrong. Not only did it take me forever to get around to reading it, I also ended up having to restart it after having placed it aside for whatever reason. So after it sat around my apartment for about another year and a half, I began to read it again in earnest and while it took me several months to completely read (I was reading other things at the time as well), I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World - Haruki Murakami

So I actually finished reading this book just this past week, and it is one of the main reasons I haven't posted very much this past week. I just couldn't put it down. I had been looking for another Murakami novel, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, but wasn't able to find it. Instead I opted for this instead. What a great way to be introduced to his work. Almost immediately I was intrigued by the idea of the subconscious being used as data storage/protection and how that would theoretically be applied. Since finishing this novel, I ran out and picked up The Wind-up Bird Chronicle which is already turning out to be a compelling read.

Goblins! A Survival Guide and Fiasco in Four Parts - Brian Froud

Classic Froud. What more do you have to say? Not much, but I will anyways. I'm a long time fan, ever since my first viewing of the classic fantasy movie The Dark Crystal. It is visually rich and outrageously ingenious. It makes me just shiver to think that Brian is now working on a sequel to The Dark Crystal after such a masterpiece of imagination.



These next three books I've actually read a number of times including over the course of the past year. As favorites of mine I've decided to briefly mention them here.

Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought - Pascal Boyer - Exactly what it sounds like, an evolutionary, anthropological, and neurological explanation of the origins of religion. I think everyone should read this non-fiction work. Classic.

The Origin of Species - Charles Darwin - Another classic non-fiction masterpiece that was brought to the forefront of American thought over the course of the past year, what with the big hooplah caused by the poorly argued Intelligent Design hypothesis. ID happened to be my largest annoyance last year as well.

The Great Tree of Avalon: Child of the Dark Prophecy and Shadows on the Stars - Ok, so maybe these are just some fantasy novels, but they are imbued with such life and intelligence I simply adore them. True it sometimes delves into a nature as bliss tone, I still enjoy rereading them whenever I get the chance.

The White Camel

So, I've had in the plans several posts to finish up my end of the year lists. (I never realized how many books I read over the course of year, and it is taking quite a bit longer to sort through them all and figure out which ones I liked best) However, I've been ill for most of the past week, and I have had trouble coming up with ways to explain my choices for my favorite music of the past year. Yes, MIA rocks and deserves the number one slot. But before I continue with that a friend of mine took some sort of online survey about a new type of cigarette brought to us by the good folks over at Camel. I've got the description and a couple of pics to boot.

So here we go as explained by the makers we have White Camel Heaters - Tobacco Heating Cigarettes:

The rare White Camel is a prized symbol of individuality and signifier of wondrous things to come. These cigarettes have been released under the sign of the White Camel, because they move the experience of tobacco forward in a new way. White Camel Heaters feature a unique design that primarily heats, rather than burns tobacco for an intensely smooth flavor. These cigarettes allow you to experience smoking pleasure in a new way:

No lingering smoke odor on you and your surroundings
No messy ashes to clean up
Very little secondhand smoke (reduced by 80%).

Sounds pretty weird and novel don't you think. To be honest I'm a little excited to actually get a chance to try them out. I even dig the new packaging (well it isn't really new, they just use a new color scheme, but I still like it).